Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Closed Housing Imbizio

President Thabo Mbeki heard suggestions (eg. Build your own home) from the City of Cape Town on Wednesday on how central government could help accelerate housing delivery so that the metropolis eradicated slums by 2014.

She mentioned frequent fires in informal settlements as a serious setback to the challenge of providing homes for all. “The cost in human lives and disruption cannot be calculated.”

Mfeketo said the leadership of the city would be the first to acknowledge and apologise if they did something wrong as it sought to transform the city and change mindsets.

The media were unable to hear Mbeki’s input and were requested to leave the hall immediately after Mfeketo’s input.

Founder member Daphne Jansen said the government was not sticking to its own batho pele (people first) principles by refusing the group entry.

“If the president is saying women must find their voices and be self-reliant, this is not the way. Read More